10+ Creative Ways to Support Nonprofits and Causes

If there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s the importance of philanthropy in our communities and in our wider world. There are lots of organizations dedicating their time and effort to helping others. These organizations also rely on us for support, but it’s not always easy to spare some extra change. The good news is there are many ways to help nonprofits, not all of which require a monetary donation. 

Wondering how you can easily support your favorite nonprofits and causes through your habits and purchases you already intend to make? Here are 10+ creative ways to take action and help nonprofits make an impact.

1. Charity Charge

   Charity Charge is the only credit card that donates 1% back on ALL purchases to the nonprofit of your choice. There’s also no annual fee, a low interest rate, and your donation may be tax deductible. There’s a card for nonprofit business owners, too!

2. Charity Miles

   This fitness/movement tracker is easily downloaded onto your smartphone (for free!) and turns the miles you walk, bike, run, or hike into money for a nonprofit of your choosing. 

3. DoneGood

   Shop for yourself or for gifts for others on this site, where every purchase you make is good for both people and the planet. There are thousands of products from hundreds of brands who pay livable wages, are eco-friendly, and empower communities. 

4. Cultivate

   This free extension for your web browser will help you feel better about your purchases. Cultivate finds the best prices on products you’re already shopping for online and earns money to donate to causes.

5. Ten Thousand Villages

   Ten Thousand Villages is another online market with oodles of unique, fair trade crafts. Any purchase you make of an ethically sourced, handmade product supports both the earth and the communities of developing countries. 

6. The Little Market

   This charitable organization founded by women helps alleviate poverty by ethically sourcing their goods from artisan groups in over 25 countries. You can choose a specific cause to search products on their site.

7. Goodshop

   Goodshop provides coupons and shopping deals for an abundance of stores. Even better, they make a donation to a nonprofit or school of your choice for nearly every purchase you make.

8. Goodsearch

   Part of Goodshop and backed by Yahoo, Goodsearch is a search engine that allows you to surf the web while simultaneously providing donations to charities.  Why Google when you could Goodsearch?

9. Freerice

   Sharpen your brain and trivia knowledge with this fun game that also helps feed people in impoverished areas. Every correct answer is ten grains of rice donated through the United Nations World Food Programme to those in need.

10. ShareTheMeal

    ShareTheMeal, also an initiative of the World Food Programme, is an app that enables people to share meals with those who need them the most, for as low as just $0.50.

11. AmazonSmile

    Making the switch from shopping on Amazon to AmazonSmile makes a negligible difference to you but can still add up for nonprofits. Amazon donates 0.5% of eligible purchases to your favorite charitable organization, with no extra costs or fees. Charities can also create Charity Lists of needed items that you can browse and order from.

    Note: Amazon will be winding down this initiative as of February 20, 2023, but that may not be a bad thing.

12. Donate a Photo

    For every photo shared on the Donate a Photo app, Johnson & Johnson donates $1 to the cause of your choosing. 

13. Volunteer

    Volunteering your time is a life-changing way to help nonprofits spread their mission, make an impact, and gain support from others. Organizations both big and small are always looking for extra sets of hands, and it can lead to beneficial connections for you, too!

14. Donate what you don’t need

    If you can’t donate money, donate items you no longer need like gently used clothing, supplies, and food. Look past just taking everything to Goodwill, too. Research local second-hand shops, shelters, and organizations in your area. Goodwill is a fantastic charity, but if you are looking for a more personalized connection, a smaller, community-based organization may be a better fit for you.

15. Follow and engage on social media

    A simple, effective, and surefire way to help nonprofits with minimal effort, simply following organizations on social media and engaging with their content helps spread the word. Engagement tells the social media algorithm that the content is good and then it will be shared to more people. Plus, it’s an easy way for you to lend your voice and advocate online.

16. Forward information to friends

    Similarly, forwarding the emails that organizations work so hard to craft to friends and family can really make a difference in expanding their network and reach. You can also just send their websites so others can learn more. You may not have a lot of resources, but someone you know might and can help expand their impact. 

17. Roundup your total at stores and restaurants

    You know when you’re asked by the cashier at a shop, restaurant, or grocery store if you want to round up your total for charity? This is called point-of-sale fundraising, and it’s a highly effective way for nonprofits to raise money. It’s a few cents to you, but those cents will go towards donations to organizations that need it. Plus, the donations are often matched by corporate partners, so the total really adds up.

18. Leave a testimonial 

    Leaving a testimonial for your favorite nonprofit is vital to their success! When others research that organization, it can be incredibly helpful for them to see happy donors, volunteers, and supporters. Just think about how product and service reviews matter to you. Testimonials can be left on public sites like Google and Facebook and take just a couple of minutes.

All of these methods are relatively quick and easy ways to support the nonprofits that you already love and that are continuously putting their time, effort, and funds into making a real difference in both their community and the world.

We can all step up in ways big and small to help create a better world and be the change we want to see. So pick one of these—and start today!

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I'm Kristi Porter, and I started Signify to help small nonprofits and for-profits with a social mission get noticed and grow through effective marketing and communications. I also teach solopreneurs and small businesses how to incorporate philanthropy and giving strategies. I believe that cause-focused organizations like yours are the future of business. You're proof that companies can both make money and do good. And I'm here to make sure you focus and shine. When you succeed, we all win.

WIN A MARKETING AUDIT AND STRATEGY SESSION!

GIVE YOURSELF THE GIFT OF BETTER MARKETING!

LET'S CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS WITH A BIG GIVEAWAY!

There are a lot of things that make the holidays the most wonderful time of the year—including presents!

Signify is marking the occasion by giving away a Marketing Audit and Strategy Session, valued at $1,000!

MARKETING AUDIT AND STRATEGY SESSION

LOOK GOOD FROM EVERY ANGLE

$1,000

Perhaps you have a marketing plan in place, but it needs some help. Or maybe you don't have a clue what you're supposed to be doing, but are eager to start.

Does your brand message stand out? Is your website working for you? What is your social media actually saying to your customers and donors?

I can help you answer these questions and more. This is an opportunity for you to get—or get back—on the right track. Once you put a strategy in place, you'll have a framework to filter all your business communications and marketing decisions.

Starts with a 60-minute introductory session. Then I'll take what we talked about and evaluate your current efforts (ex: website, social media, primary print/online assets), brainstorm new ideas, and give feedback on relevant systems. I'll also provide priority recommendations for moving forward. We'll finish with a final 60-minute session two weeks later to make sure you understand your new strategy.

STARBUCKS GIFT CARD

$10

A gift card just to say thanks. Consider it an extra "perk." ;)

You can even sip on your complimentary java while we chat about your communications plan.

Free + free = twice as nice!

To enter: You must completely fill out the easy-to-answer, one-page survey below. It should take you less than 10 minutes—especially because the first few questions are your name and email!

I'm doing my best to provide helpful, high-quality content on my newsletter, blog, and social media, but I need your help to make sure I'm still addressing what's most relevant to you. I want to help your nonprofit, social enterprise, or social impact company get noticed and grow through effective marketing and communications, and that means hearing directly from you! My one-on-one clients provide me with terrific feedback, but I'd love your input as well.

The fine-ish print: You must lead or work at a nonprofit or "do good" for-profit organization. Additionally, all questions on the survey must be completed for contest entry. You may take the survey anytime between December 1 and 31, 2022, at 11:59 p.m. ET. The winner will be randomly drawn and notified the first week of January. Marketing Audit and Strategy Session must be redeemed by March 31, 2023. By filling out the survey, you agree to receiving emails from Signify, but of course, you may unsubscribe anytime.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

HERE’S WHAT LAST YEAR’S WINNER HAD TO SAY:

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I’m Kristi Porter, and I help cause-focused organizations understand and execute effective marketing campaigns so they can move from stressed to strategic. Your resources may be limited, but your potential isn’t. Whether you’re a nonprofit, social enterprise, or small business who wants to give back, I’ll show you how to have a bigger impact.

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How to Help Support the People of Ukraine Right Now

The war in Ukraine is a scary, heartbreaking tragedy to witness from afar, and multitudes worse for those experiencing it firsthand. Civilian homes and public infrastructure have been targeted and millions of citizens have fled their country in search of safety.     

Many of those left in Ukraine are not only left fearful for their lives but are also without basic necessities like water, heat, electricity, or access to stores and health facilities. Food and supplies are becoming increasingly scarce, and the need for humanitarian efforts and aid is only growing. 

Additionally, neighboring countries have generously welcomed scores of refugees, but their own systems are overwhelmed and ill-equipped for such a drastic response. Physical, emotional, and mental resources are all desperately needed, and of course, this is all happening amidst a global pandemic.

As we watch the crisis unfold over the news and on our social media feeds, it’s easy to feel distant and helpless. If you’re wondering how to help, here are some resources and ways you can support Ukraine now. 

Organizations to Support 

There are many organizations and nonprofits out there dedicated to humanitarian efforts. It can be difficult to parse through them all and decide who to support. 

Here are a few suggestions of trusted organizations actively working in Ukraine or with refugees nearby.

1. Médecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders)

   MSF staff are on the ground in Ukraine delivering medical care and supplies and working with local volunteers, organizations, health care professionals, and authorities to help people travel to health care facilities.

2. UN Refugee Agency (UNHRC)

   UNHRC is a global organization dedicated to saving lives and protecting the rights of  refugees. They aim to provide emergency assistance to families in Ukraine. 

3. International Medical Corps

   This global nonprofit has been serving Ukraine in primary medical care and mental health services. They are now working to help refugees and expand services for people affected by the current crisis.

4. MAP

   MAP International provides medicines and health supplies to those in need.

5. UNICEF USA

   UNICEF supports health, sanitation, and protection and is also on the ground in Ukraine helping children and families. It is rated one of the best charities to donate to.

6. Project HOPE

   In Poland, Romania, Moldova, and within Ukraine, Project HOPE emergency teams are delivering essential medicines and other relief for refugees and the displaced.

7. World Central Kitchen

   World Central Kitchen provides meals in response to humanitarian, climate, and community crises. The food network has set up mobile kitchens at border crossings around Ukraine to meet the needs of refugees. 

8. CARE

   This international humanitarian group is providing food, water, and other essentials to those escaping violence in Ukraine.

9. International Committee of the Red Cross

   ICRC is supporting the work of the Ukrainian Red Cross in helping those impacted by war.

10. United Way Worldwide

    The nonprofit set up a relief fund to provide transportation, shelter, food, and medicine. Donations to the United for Ukraine Fund can be made here.

11. SERV

    SERV is an Atlanta nonprofit that I personally know, and while they are primarily focused on food, they are also connecting with churches in Hungary and other border countries to get all kinds of resources to those in need.

Additionally, here is a list put together by the cybersecurity experts at Safety Detectives, and it also includes some charities for the animal lovers out there.

Finally, I’m also the CMO at Vector Global Logistics, and we are sponsoring two ocean containers of aid per month and hosting “Leveraging Logistics for Ukraine” working sessions for industry peers who are involved in this effort, or who would like to be.

These are just some of the many great organizations working to support the people of Ukraine. Looking into and donating to any of the above is a worthy contribution. 

How to Avoid a Scam 

While most organizations are in it for the right reasons and truly want to provide supplies and relief, there are always those willing to take advantage of a tragedy. It’s important to be careful when considering giving your support or money to an organization. 

The best thing you can do to avoid a scam is research. Websites like Charity Navigator or Give Well allow you to search organizations and evaluate your options. These nonprofits essentially do most of the work for you. 

Charity Navigator in particular has an assessment tool designed to protect donors from charity scams and misconduct by providing objective information. The star rating system makes it easy to quickly determine the key factors of an organization and ensure you’re “giving with confidence.”

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission also recommends including the words “scam” or “complaint” when searching for an organization online. This could bring up reviews from others and results that suggest if they are legitimate or not. 

And, of course, be wary of social media posts. Make sure to put in adequate research for any links, numbers, or GoFundMe pages you see that are soliciting donations before you contribute. 

Ways You Can Support Ukraine Now

So what can we do with all of this? How can we act now? You can show your support with any of the below actions.

• Donate money to a trusted organization (like any of the above!).

• Donate supplies or goods—get a group together or act alone. But this is most recommended for companies, nonprofits, and large organizations who have the ability to pay for shipping and also have distribution options on the ground. As individuals, a financial donation is your best bet.

• Educate yourself on the crisis and talk with others about it.

• Share credible information with friends, family, and colleagues.

• Inspire and encourage others to get involved.

• Participate in a peaceful protest or demonstration.

• Stay informed. 

Creative Ways to Stand With Ukraine

While all of the above are incredibly helpful, if you want to take things a step further here are some more out-of-the-box ways people are stepping up to support Ukrainian people. 

• Book an immediate Airbnb stay in a Ukrainian city - Many people have begun booking stays at various places around the country as a new way to send direct financial support to Ukrainians. Airbnb has also temporarily waived all host and guest fees in Ukraine. Be sure to communicate to the host that you will not actually be staying at their listing, but that you are just extending support. 

• Purchase a digital download from a Ukrainian seller on Etsy - Ukrainian artists may not be able to ship physical items, but you can still purchase digital ones as another way to send direct funds to sellers and support small business owners in the region. Etsy also canceled current balances owed to Etsy by all sellers in Ukraine, including listing fees, transaction fees, advertising fees, and more.

• Take an Uber - If you need to get a ride via a ride-sharing app, consider using Uber. The company announced they’re launching an in-app donation button to allow Uber riders in the US to make donations to the International Rescue Committee. They’re also matching donations up to $1 million. 

• Go local - Research local businesses in your area that are supporting Ukraine. Many local restaurants and shops have begun to host events or donate profits to many of the above organizations. Here is a list of Atlanta restaurants and pop-ups that are supporting Ukraine. 

As with the charities above, do your research to make sure you are giving to a legitimate person or organization!

And even if all you can do is help spread awareness, that’s still incredibly impactful. There’s power in numbers, and the people of Ukraine need all the help they can get right now.

You know the power of social impact and involvement. Each of us truly can make a difference alone, but we all must work together to fight for freedom. 

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I’m Kristi Porter, and I help cause-focused organizations understand and execute effective marketing campaigns so they can move from stressed to strategic. Your resources may be limited, but your potential isn’t. Whether you’re a nonprofit, social enterprise, or small business who wants to give back, I’ll show you how to have a bigger impact.

Create a Year-End Social Impact Report to Engage Donors and Customers

Can one person really change the world?

I think it depends on what you count.

Some people are only impressed by massive reputations, millions of dollars, big programs, and culture-changing ideas.

But as nonprofits and social impact companies started to release their year-end reports over the last few months, my favorite ones to read are the creative reports that:

• make tangible the intangible,

• highlight the small numbers that represent a change in heart or thought for a few people,

• share the seedlings of disruption that will shape a family's trajectory forever,

• tell the David versus Goliath stories,

• represent the optimistic beginnings of early-stage organizations,

• sound more relatable to me.

It's the idealist in me, but these reports represent hope and what could be.

Don't get me wrong, I'm certainly in awe of the big nonprofits and social enterprises who make an impact that I could only dream of. But I think we often forget that everyone who tried to do something great had to start somewhere, usually with meager resources.

Even on a small scale, these reports are the testimony of how you've used your resources to do something worthy of your donor or customer’s investment in you—whether that be time, money, influence, or anything else. No matter how big or how little you feel your contributions are (and theirs in you), they deserve to hear the story of what you did together.

If you haven't done so already, I urge you create your own report—and I’ll talk you through it.

Why Do You Need a Year-End Report?

Here are a few reasons why having a year-end report benefits you and your nonprofit or social impact company.

• Help your community understand what you did with their resources, which might encourage them to give more.

• Show them where you're headed in the future, and how they can be a part of it.

• Tell stories of the real lives that were affected by your mission and the shared belief that things can be different (and better!).

• Reiterate their standing as an insider that will always be kept in the loop when you've been trying something new.

• Thank your current large donors, partners, and sponsors.

• Build trust in you, your work, and your vision for a new and improved future.

We are in need of more good news than ever before . . . and you are in a fantastic position to share it!

How to Easily Design Your Year-End Social Impact Report FOR FREE

Here’s what you need to know: Your social impact report doesn’t need to be fancy. It certainly can be, but don’t let that stop you from making it happen.

Canva

Canva is the (free) tool that I use to create pretty much anything visual on this website or my social media. There are thousands of free templates to utilize for pretty much every purpose, and it’s pretty easy to get up to speed. Canva lets anyone be a designer!

People Resources

If you have a limited budget but a pair of extra hands, put them to work! It could be an intern, volunteer, board member, or peer that you can barter with.

Yearly

Yearly is a tool I only recently discovered through a friend, but it looks user-friendly and like it could create a great social impact report.

Webpage

No eye for design or short on time? Simply add a new page to your website and list all the data there. Just try to compliment numbers with stories and information that bring the facts to life.

Marketing Your Social Impact Report

Once you’ve taken the time to create your year-end report, be sure to get the most mileage of it by promoting it everywhere you can.

• Website

• Social media

• Email newsletter

• Conversations with donors and customers

• Partner and sponsorship presentations

• Direct mail

• Speaking engagements and interviews

• And anywhere else at your disposal!

Pssst—You can also promote it more than once! For example, you could even promote it to new donors and customers as they begin to interact with you over the course of a year.

Examples of Year-End Social Impact Reports

After everything we’ve discussed above, would you like to see some impact reports from small nonprofits and social enterprises like you?

Atlanta Dream Center (now Frontline Response)*

This incredible organization has been doing good in Atlanta and beyond for a couple of decades now. So, they have some pretty great numbers to tout. However, one of the things I love about their social impact report is their vision for the future. At the end they show a photo and blueprint for their new headquarters as well as the budget they need for it. This allows their current donors to understand future needs and make the investment.

Gifts for Good

When you don’t have a designer on standby, you can follow Gifts for Good’s example and simply add a new page to your website with all the relevant stories and stats. A few of the creative stats they included were hours of employment, gallons of water save by using recycled materials, and chemo rides for cancer patients.

Refugee Coffee Co.*

My friends at Refuge got super creative in 2020 by telling their story through the lens of a fairy tale. If you have talented artists at your disposal, this is a fantastic way for their skills to intersect with your mission. You’ll see that they included cups of coffee served, hours of training, mentor/volunteer hours, and reiterated that their customers and donors helped them fight injustice.

Love Not Lost

My friend Ashley and her team at LNL had a heck of a year trying to help us all process grief in the midst of 2020. But they showed up in the ways that only they could, and loved on their community at a safe distance. Their report is a terrific example of what happens when you don’t make your goal. They were honest, upfront, and showed their donors and supporters their vision for 2021 with gusto! I know anyone who received this wasn’t disappointed—only proud to be a part of their community.

Kula Project

My friends at Mad+Dusty created this beautiful report, and the design was inspired by the founder’s quote about seeing the light and continuing to follow it. As you can see in this piece, they kept written content to a minimum but used the opportunity to show off the amazing photos of their work in action.

Goshen Homes

Another Mad+Dusty special, this one isn't quite an impact report, but it is still certainly a great model. Even without the beautiful design, you’ll see the testimonials scattered throughout that reinforce the importance of their work. And I love that it also shows you clear steps to getting involved.

Partners International

A huge kudos to Partners International for including a video with their annual report! It’s really the icing on the cake, and sets the stage for their work and impact. And for those who don’t like to write or don’t think you have much to say, note that their report doesn’t actually include a lot of words, but still does an excellent job of communicating what happened through powerful language and a beautiful layout. You’ll also notice that they include the donate button right after the report, which is another great move!

Conscious Capitalism

I love that this report starts off with the title, “A Pivot Toward the Future.” It’s hopeful, shows they are still standing strong after a hard year, and points to their work moving forward. I also like that they counted the attendees for their online gatherings as a stat. Finally, I love that they dedicated several pages to thanking their major partners, event donors, board of directors, and team. You can never thank people enough!

To The Market

This report stood out to me for several reasons. First, I love that they reinforced their work with stats about why their mission matters to the public at large. Second, they showed their growth very simply and in a straightforward way on page 5. (And yay for utilizing interns!) And, third, you’ll notice that their case studies are short and so is their social impact report. This is a terrific example of how you can communicate impact in a compact way.

Bi-Bett Corporation

Full disclosure—I wrote this report! Bi-Bett is a substance use treatment center in California, and they’ve been doing incredible work for over five decades. However, this was their first impact report so they wanted a hefty mix of stories, hard stats, creative stats, and showing their gratitude for everyone who contributes to their success. I loved the way we ended up quantifying some of the more emotional parts of their work such as safe nights spent in their care, observations by staff, days people felt supported, and people who turned their lives around. They have a lot to be proud of!

Signify’s 2020 Social Impact Report

I’m one person, so my stats are meager at best. But, again, that’s not the point and hopefully you’ve seen that by now. I show mine to you not to say, "Hey, look at what I did!" Instead, I show it to you in the hopes that you'll create your own and share it with your community.

I really do believe that one person can change the world—when you know what's important and what to count.

You're the one.
Get out there.
Create your impact.
Share it with the world.

PS: Have your own awesome year-end report to show off? Link to it in the comments!

* Past or present Signify client

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I’m Kristi Porter, and I help cause-focused organizations understand and execute effective marketing campaigns so they can move from stressed to strategic. Your resources may be limited, but your potential isn’t. Whether you’re a nonprofit, social enterprise, or small business who wants to give back, I’ll show you how to have a bigger impact.

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